F
Field Ethos
Guest
By Gayne C. Young
“There’s a proportionate relationship between how many tattoos you have and how little personality you have. And I find a lot of people who have a ton of tattoos often are super f—-ing boring. Like truly boring people.”
This statement from actor Will Arnett caused outrage because … well, because it’s 2026 and people get outraged about everything. Even humorous observations.
The outcry began on January 25, 2026, when Arnett appeared as a guest on comedian Romesh Ranganathan’s podcast, “The Romesh Show.” The two discussed Arnett’s career, his new movie “Is This Thing On?” and, for some reason, the TV show “The Masked Singer.” It was after the back and forth on the later that Ranganathan asked if Arnett had any tattoos. Arnett said that he didn’t, then offered his opinion on such. After a little more back and forth, Ranganathan said he could see Arnett’s point despite having more than 20 tattoos himself. The conversation went viral.
Cue the outrage.
And let me add to such …
I kind of agree with Arnett. Furthermore, I think tattoos are mostly a money waster and something most will come to regret having gotten.
I came to this opinion after spending a month in Papua New Guinea and during subsequent travels in Africa and in the Amazon. In these countries, I met indigenous who earned their tats. These people did something of value, then suffered through tribal pain to have their accomplishment imbedded under their skin. That isn’t the case in the modern world. In the U.S., to get a tattoo all you need to have is money.
An example of what I believe:
Papua New Guinea: Each mark on my arm represents a man I killed in battle. They were tattooed into my skin with a carved pig’s jaw and “ink” made from blood, plant extract, and ash.
College Station, Texas: These are the Greek letters from my frat. I paid an artist to put them on me with a sterile needle driven by an electric machine. It was expensive but I had dad’s Visa.
No, frat boy is not as cool as PNG man. Not at all.
Here’s another example:
Africa: I got this tattoo during a ceremony to mark my transition from boy to man. The tribal elders cut into my skin and then rubbed in ash and charcoal as “ink.” This showed that I have endurance and an indifference to pain.
Charleston, South Carolina: I got this tramp stamp of a butterfly during a girl’s night out. I was so trashed. I flirted with the artist, and he gave me a discount. And if you think it looks hot over my heart-shaped ass now, come back to see it 10 years and 35 pounds from now.
Yep, Americans are lame candy asses prone to delusions of grandeur and obesity.
To help you avoid coming across as such allow me to give you my rules for tattoos in America.
A U.S. Marine in Danang, Vietnam, 1968.
The Military: gets a pass on tattoos so long as they are gotten during actual service. Getting them in a foreign country gets you bonus points.
Prisoners and Gang Members: Have at it, but earn that shit. Tapping them in by hand gets you mad props.
Relatives of Holocaust Survivors. I admire you for transcribing the number your relative was stamped with onto your skin as a reminder of the worst mankind can do.
Everyone Else: No.
But what about…: No.
No symbols from a culture you’re not a part of.
No characters from a language you don’t understand.
No cartoon characters.
No tribal art unless you’re actively in that tribe.
Nothing from the bible other than Leviticus 19:28.
No catch phrases.
No barbwire unless you invented the stuff.
No names of significant others.
No mention of parents.
No mention of children.
No pictures or caricatures of significant others, parents, or children.
No sexual instructions.
Nothing that might get you free food for life.
No sport team logos unless you actually played on said team and were pretty well known for doing such (at which point why would you need the tattoo?).
That’s my take on tattoos. Feel free to be outraged.
Editor’s Note: Several ink’d FE staffers break Gayne’s questionable rules …
The post Think Before You Ink appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
“There’s a proportionate relationship between how many tattoos you have and how little personality you have. And I find a lot of people who have a ton of tattoos often are super f—-ing boring. Like truly boring people.”
This statement from actor Will Arnett caused outrage because … well, because it’s 2026 and people get outraged about everything. Even humorous observations.
The outcry began on January 25, 2026, when Arnett appeared as a guest on comedian Romesh Ranganathan’s podcast, “The Romesh Show.” The two discussed Arnett’s career, his new movie “Is This Thing On?” and, for some reason, the TV show “The Masked Singer.” It was after the back and forth on the later that Ranganathan asked if Arnett had any tattoos. Arnett said that he didn’t, then offered his opinion on such. After a little more back and forth, Ranganathan said he could see Arnett’s point despite having more than 20 tattoos himself. The conversation went viral.
Cue the outrage.
Hot Take on Tattoos
And let me add to such …
I kind of agree with Arnett. Furthermore, I think tattoos are mostly a money waster and something most will come to regret having gotten.
I came to this opinion after spending a month in Papua New Guinea and during subsequent travels in Africa and in the Amazon. In these countries, I met indigenous who earned their tats. These people did something of value, then suffered through tribal pain to have their accomplishment imbedded under their skin. That isn’t the case in the modern world. In the U.S., to get a tattoo all you need to have is money.
An example of what I believe:
Papua New Guinea: Each mark on my arm represents a man I killed in battle. They were tattooed into my skin with a carved pig’s jaw and “ink” made from blood, plant extract, and ash.
College Station, Texas: These are the Greek letters from my frat. I paid an artist to put them on me with a sterile needle driven by an electric machine. It was expensive but I had dad’s Visa.
No, frat boy is not as cool as PNG man. Not at all.
Here’s another example:
Africa: I got this tattoo during a ceremony to mark my transition from boy to man. The tribal elders cut into my skin and then rubbed in ash and charcoal as “ink.” This showed that I have endurance and an indifference to pain.
Charleston, South Carolina: I got this tramp stamp of a butterfly during a girl’s night out. I was so trashed. I flirted with the artist, and he gave me a discount. And if you think it looks hot over my heart-shaped ass now, come back to see it 10 years and 35 pounds from now.
Yep, Americans are lame candy asses prone to delusions of grandeur and obesity.
To help you avoid coming across as such allow me to give you my rules for tattoos in America.
A U.S. Marine in Danang, Vietnam, 1968.
The Military: gets a pass on tattoos so long as they are gotten during actual service. Getting them in a foreign country gets you bonus points.
Prisoners and Gang Members: Have at it, but earn that shit. Tapping them in by hand gets you mad props.
Relatives of Holocaust Survivors. I admire you for transcribing the number your relative was stamped with onto your skin as a reminder of the worst mankind can do.
Everyone Else: No.
But what about…: No.
Gayne’s Rules on Tattoos
No symbols from a culture you’re not a part of.
No characters from a language you don’t understand.
No cartoon characters.
No tribal art unless you’re actively in that tribe.
Nothing from the bible other than Leviticus 19:28.
No catch phrases.
No barbwire unless you invented the stuff.
No names of significant others.
No mention of parents.
No mention of children.
No pictures or caricatures of significant others, parents, or children.
No sexual instructions.
Nothing that might get you free food for life.
No sport team logos unless you actually played on said team and were pretty well known for doing such (at which point why would you need the tattoo?).
That’s my take on tattoos. Feel free to be outraged.
Editor’s Note: Several ink’d FE staffers break Gayne’s questionable rules …
The post Think Before You Ink appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
